Cimetière du Prieuré

Tucked away in the heart of Saint-Prix lies the Cimetière du Prieuré Noir. This isn’t just any cemetery. It whispers tales of centuries past. It holds the memories of the community. The Cimetière du Prieuré Noir started as the “Grand Cimetière,” the larger of two burial grounds mentioned between 1676 and 1713. The other, smaller cemetery was nestled around the church. It wrapped from behind the Prieuré Noir, around the east side behind the apse, and was referred to as the “Petit Cimetière.” Records show burials “near the Prieuré Noir” or “near the sacristy door,” always distinguished as either the “Grand Cimetière” or “Petit Cimetière.” It seems important figures were buried within the church itself. Other notable individuals found their final resting place in the Petit Cimetière. After 1713, the Petit Cimetière disappears from records. The fate of its tombs remains a mystery. The Grand Cimetière, now the Cimetière du Prieuré Noir, expanded in 1869 and again in 1898. It grew into the space we see today. Fast forward to the 20th century. The expanding community needed more burial space. In 1974, land across from the Cimetière du Prieuré Noir, on Rue de la Croix Saint-Jacques, became the Cimetière du Prieuré Blanc. It officially opened in 1975. Until 1978, the cemeteries lacked their current names. They were simply the “cimetières de la colline,” cemeteries of the hill. Finally, in September 1978, the council bestowed the names we know today: Cimetière du Prieuré Noir for the older cemetery and Cimetière du Prieuré Blanc for its newer counterpart. The Cimetière du Prieuré Noir isn’t just a place of rest. It’s a living testament to the history of Saint-Prix. It embodies the community’s growth and its reverence for the past.